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All roads lead to Rome

Cultural  
  1. All paths or activities lead to the center of things. This was literally true in the days of the Roman Empire, when all the empire's roads radiated out from the capital city, Rome.


all roads lead to Rome Idioms  
  1. Many different methods will produce the same result. For example, So long as you meet the deadline, I don't care how much help you get—all roads lead to Rome. Based on the fact that the Roman Empire's excellent road system radiated from the capital like the spokes of a wheel, this metaphor was already being used in the 1100s.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hitherto Roman Catholics of North & South America have had only a nodding acquaintance�possibly because in the Catholic Church all roads lead to Rome and side trips are not encouraged.

From Time Magazine Archive

"All creeds are a good deal alike, just as they say all roads lead to Rome," she reminded him, with a curious crossing of Mrs. Brenton's mental trail.

From The Brentons by Dexter, Wilson C.

Cut is poor Lobengula's comb, 'Tis said that all roads lead to Rome.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, November 11, 1893 by Various

Going from Italy to Denmark and back again twice a year, we are obliged to traverse the whole of Europe, and, as "all roads lead to Rome," we can choose the one we like best.

From The Sunny Side of Diplomatic Life, 1875-1912 by Hegermann-Lindencrone, L. de (Lillie de)

As all roads lead to Rome, so, with Mrs. Hornblower, all topics of conversation led directly to the subject uppermost in her thoughts.

From Other People's Business The Romantic Career of the Practical Miss Dale by Smith, Harriet L.